Kaleidoscopic advertising display



Oct. 4, 1960 w. H. DUNN 2,954,723

KALEIDOSCOPIC ADVERTISING DISPLAY Filed Jan. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

ATTD RN EYS Oct. 4, 1960 w. DUN 2,954,723

KALEIDOSCOPIC ADVERTISING DISPLAY Filed Jan. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 2} mzz wmiinunn ATTEIRN EYS United States Patent 2,954,723 KALEIDOSCOPIC ADVERTISING DISPLAY William Dunn, 1232 South st, Fail-born, Ohio Filed Jan. 24 ,1958, Ser. No. 711,084 1 Claim. (or. 88-24) This invention relates to an advertising display device.

The object of the invention is to provide an advertising display device which includes a kaleidoscope and a clock mechanism so that with the device mounted in a pa"- ticular location, it will be seen that a means is provided for attracting attention to advertisements or the like which may be arranged on the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an advertising display device which includes a coacting kaleidoscope and a clock mechanism, and wherein the device is adapted to have associated therewith a suitable advertising message so that the device will provide a highly effective means for attracting attention to the advertising message due to the kaleidoscope effect created as well as the clock or timepiece associated therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide an advertising display device which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other'objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

' In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the advertising display device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the advertising display device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through the rear portion of the device and illustrating the drive arrangement for the kaleidoscope.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the front portion of the kaleidoscope, showing the adjustable lens mounting.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown an advertising display device which is indicated generally by the numeral 9, and the display device 9 includes a hollow housing that is indicated generally by the numeral 10. The housing 10 includes a horizontally disposed bottom Wall 11 and a horizontally disposed top wall 12, and the housing 10 is hollow. The housing 10 further includes a vertically disposed back wall'13 which is provided with cooling fins 14, Figure 1. The housing 10 further includes a vertically disposed front wall 15 which is provided with a central circular opening 16. Extending around the opening 16 and arranged on the outer surface of the wall 15 are numerals 17 which define the numerals of a clock face. The numeral 18 indicates an advertisement which is also arranged on the front face of the wall 15, Figure 2.

The numeral 19 indicates a guide member which is secured to the inner surface of the wall 15 by securing elements 20, and the guide member 19 is provided with grooves 21 and 22 which receive therein a rotary clear Patented Oct. 4, 1960 2 glass 23 and a rotary frosted glass 24. The glass 23 and the glass 24 are of circular formation.

The outer periphery of the clear glass 23 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart teeth 25, and the outer periphery of the frosted glass 24 is provided with a similar plurality of spaced apart gear teeth 26. As shown in Figure 3, there is painted on or otherwise provided on the clear glass 23, a minute hand 27. As shown in Figure 4, an hour hand 28 is painted or otherwise provided on the frosted glass 24.

Arranged in the rear portion of the housing 10 is a stand or supporting structure 29, and the stand 29 includes legs 30 and a horizontally disposed platform 31, there being a conventional electric motor 32 supported on the platform 31. The numeral 33 indicates a control switch which is electrically connected to the motor 32, and the control switch 33 may be mounted in a convenient location at the rear of the housing 10. A shaft 34 is driven by the motor 32, and the shaft 34 has a gear 35 thereon which meshes with a gear 36, and the gear 36 is connected to the rotary casing 37 of a conventional kaleidoscope 38. The rotary kaleidoscope 38 is rotatably supported by bearings or rollers 39, Figure 1. A light bulb 40 and a reflector 41 are arranged adjacent the rear end of the kaleidoscope 38. As shown in Figure 6, there is provided an aperture 42 in the front of the kaleidoscope 38, and a sleeve or collar 43 is adjustably mounted on the front end of the kaleidoscope 38, there being a lens 44 carried by the sleeve 43.

As shown in the drawings such as Figure 1, there is mounted in the front portion of the housing 10 a conventional electric motor 45 which serves to operate or rotate a drive shaft 46.- The shaft 46 has a large gear 47 and a small gear 48 thereon. The large gear 47 has its teeth meshing with the teeth 25 of the clear glass 23. The small gear 48 meshes with an idler gear 49, and the numeral 50 indicates a gear member which meshes with the idler gear 49 and the gear member 50 also meshes with the teeth 26 of the frosted glass 24.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an advertising display device which utilizes a kaleidoscope effect and a clockwork mechanism. It is to be noted that the display device 9 of the present invention includes a hollow housing 10 which has the kaleidoscope 38 rotatably supported therein, and the kaleidoscope 38 has the light bulb 40 arranged contiguous to its rear end. As shown in Figure 1, wires 51 and 52 lead to the socket for the bulb 40, and wires 53 and 54 are connected to the electric motor 32. These wires are connected to the control switch 33 and to the motor 45, and the motor 45 may have a gear reduction unit associated therewith. Thus, it will be seen that by properly setting or moving the switch 33, the bulb 40 can be turned on and at the same time the motor 32 and the motor 45 can be actuated and this has the effect of simultaneously operating the clockwork mechanism and rotating the kaleidoscope 38. Thus, as the motor 32 is actuated, the gear 35 is'rotated, and since the gear 35 rotates with the gear 36, it will be seen that there will result in rotation of the kaleidoscope 38. The kaleidoscope 38 is rotatably supported by bearings 39 so that it will continually rotate whereby a plurality of different patterns or designs will be projected through the aperture 42 and through the l ens.44 as the kaleidoscope 38 is continually rotated and the kaleidoscope may have an internal construction which is conventional in the art. The adjustable collar 43 permits the lens 44 to be properly used for focusing the rays of light issuing therefrom.

As the motor 45 rotates, it rotates the shaft 46, and this in turn causes rotation of the pair of gears 47 and 48. As the gear 48 rotates, it causes corresponding rotation of the idler gear 49 and this in turn results in rotation of the gear 50, and since the gear 50 meshes with the teeth 26 on the frosted glass 24, it will be seen that the frosted glass or disk 24 will be rotated at a proper speed. The glass 24 has an hour hand 28 painted or otherwise arranged thereon so that the hour hand 28 will be continually rotated in a clockwise direction at the proper speed. At the same time, the rotation of the shaft 46 will result in rotation of the gear 47, and since the gear 47 meshes with the teeth 25 of the clear glass 23, it will be seen that the clear glass 23 will be likewise rotated at a predetermined speed. The clear glass 23 has a minute hand 27 painted or otherwise formed thereon, so that the hands 27 and 28 will rotate at a predetermined speed so that persons looking at the front of the device will be able to ascertain or readily learn the correct time of the day. Since the frosted glass 24 and clear glass 23 are "arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that not only Will the device give the time of the day, but also the kaleidoscope pattern from the kaleidoscope 38 will be projected onto the face of the clock so that there is provided an additional means for attracting attention. On the outer face of the wall are the numerals 17 which provide the clock face for coaction with the hands 22 and 27, and also arranged on the outer surface of the wall 15 is an advertising message such as the message indicated by the letters 13, and it is to be understood that any type of advertising message or the like may be imprinted or otherwise arranged on the wall 15. Thus, the combined clock efiect and kaleidoscope effect will coact to provide a highly attractive medium which will attract attention of passersby or the like so that attention can be readily direct-2d to an advertising message such as the message 18.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The purpose of the present invention is thus to provide an advertising device and wherein there is provided a screen which serves as a clock face and on the screen the ever changing pattern designs of a rotating kaleidoscope are projected. These changing patterns of the kaleidoscope are extremely attractive and eye-catching and this pattern can be used for attracting attention to a product, name of a company, or advertising slogan or the like. Any type of product can be advertised on the device and a single company will find it advantageous to advertise its name or product on the device and the device will attract and hold the attention of even the causal observer much longer than an ordinary lighted sign.

The frosted glass 24 will have the patterns of the turning kaleidoscope projected thereon, and the hand 28 may be enameled upon the glass 24. The glasses 23 and 24 are rotated at the proper speeds so as to insure that the hands 28 and 27 will coact with the clock face 17 to give a proper indication of the time of the day. The hand 27 may be enameled on the clear glass 23 and the grooves 21 and 22 in the guide member 19 insure that the glass plates or disks can be easily rotated. The electric motors may be of small capacity and for example the motor 32 may be of a size which rotates the kaleidoscope 38 at about four revolutions per minute. The beam of light provided by the bulb 40 is reflected by the reflector 41 so this light shines through the kaleidoscope 38 whereby the pattern is projected onto the frosted glass 24. The adjustable lens 44 can be used for focusing the kaleidoscope picture upon the screen or glass 24. The member 24- may be made of a suitable plastic material which has the same semi-transparent qualities as frosted glass. The advertisements may be displayed in any suitable manner and if desired, a translucent or transparent effect can be utilized in conjunction with the advertising matter so as increase the attractiveness thereof. As an alternative method of mounting the clock mechanism, a single disk made of frosted glass can be used as a clock face. It is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to any particular size or shape and any suitable material can be used for making the various parts. The fins or louvers 14 permit the housing 10 to be properly cooled.

The top wall 12 is removable in order to gain access to the interior of the device for repairs or the like. Provision can be made for setting the clock mechanism which is common to electric clock manufacturing, or for economical construction the top Wall 12 can be removed and the clock can be set manually by adjusting the disks 23 and 24.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

1 claim:

In a display device, a hollow housing including a horizontally disposed bottom wall and a horizontally disposed top wall, a vertically disposed back wall provided with a plurality of spaced apart cooling fins, said housing further including a vertically disposed front wall provided with a central circular opening therein, a stand arranged in the rear portion of said housing and said stand including a horizontally disposed platform, legs connected to the corners of said platform, bearings supported by the upper ends of said legs above said platform, a kaleidoscope rotatably supported by said bearings, a light bulb and reflector arranged rearwardly of said kaleidoscope, a collar adjustably connected to the front end of said kaleidoscope, a lens mounted in said collar and supported thereby, a first motor supported by said platform, a first gear on said kaleidoscope, and a second gear connected to said motor and meshing with said first gear, a second motor supported in the lower front portion of said housing, a drive shaft extending from said second motor, a circular frosted glass screen rotatably arranged in the front portion of the housing, a circular clear glass screen rotatably arranged in the front of the housing and interposed between the front wall of the housing and said frosted glass, a guide member secured to the front wall and provided with grooves for receiving said frosted and clear glass screens, the outer periphery of said frosted glass screen and said clear glass screen being each provided with a plurality of gear teeth, a small and large gear wheel on said drive shaft, said large gear wheel meshing with the teeth on the clear glass, an idler gear meshing with said small gear wheel, and a gear member meshing with said idler gear and also meshing with the teeth on said frosted glass.

to further References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 537,034 Hanson Apr. 9, 1895 1,218,607 Willens Mar. 6, 1917 1,914,562 Freeland June 20, 1933 1,969,909 Simjian Aug. 14, 1934 2,137,289 Hotchner Nov. 22, 1938 2,475,930 Wesley July 12, 1949 2,493,237 Eddy Jan. 3, 1950 2,553,005 Regan May 15, 1951 2,757,570 Molnar Aug. 7, 1956 2,762,257 Vacher Sept. 11, 1956 2,786,292 Graves Mar. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 193,467 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1923 590,333 Great Britain July 15, 1947 

